Drop Dead Diva: Thoughts on the new Plus-Size Show

Lifetime has a new show about life as a fat, brilliant girl in a thin-obsessed world!  Since I can relate, I had to check it out! Last Sunday at 9pm "Drop Dead Diva" premiered, and with teasers telling us only that an airhead model--Deb--dies and is transported into the body of a fat and frumpy attorney named Jane.

I wasn't sure what to expect--yet another show/book/story where a "plus sized girl" (often no more than a size 10) miraculously sheds the pounds and wins the dream guy who secretly loved her all along but never actually expressed it until she was thin and hot?  Instead, I was pleasantly surprised.

What I Loved: 

• Recognition of the fact that people who are more than a size 2 can be awesome, smart, kind and fantastic people!  And on TV, no less!
• The acknowledgement that normal-to-fat-sized people can have very low self-esteem and that people can take advantage of that, like Jane's obnoxious co-worker, Kim.
• Deb-as-Jane freaking out about her clothes (Lane Bryant).  There's nothing wrong with LB or any other store, but I have had many people at Smart for Life tell me that the reason they started the program was because of clothes/a bad shopping experience where they suddenly couldn't find anything that looked good/fit, and they didn't want to start shopping in "stores like that."
• Jane (and Deb-as-Jane) eats to feel better. Chocolate, doughnuts, and cheese-wiz are like a drug to her.  Ok, so I don't love that she does this, but I do appreciate that one problem with food that people have--stress eating--is addresses.  Jane had low self-esteem, eats to feel better, and then feels even worse about herself.  Who hasn't had that same experience?
• Deb's BFF stacy telling Deb-as-Jane, not unkindly, that she probably can't get into the sort of clubs and night-spots that they used to frequent, but that they can have fun at home.  As wrong as it is, there's some truth to Stacy's statement.  Society has strict rules of beauty, and Jane probably doesn't cut it.
  
• Deb-as-Jane deciding not to tell Deb's grieving boyfriend (and Jane's coworker) Grayson about her new status.  "He loved Deb, but he'd run from this" she cries to Stacy.  Her resolve holds, even after attending her own funeral and hearing his heartfelt eulogy, he confides in "co-worker Jane" that he was going to propose, and catty coworker Kim's overt flirtations.  I don't love this because I'm cruel, but because having Grayson fall in love with Deb, again, in Jane's body will help her realize that what matters is on the inside.  And because it makes for better drama!
• Margaret Cho as Jane's awesome assistant.  She can deal with cravings, mood swings, and strange requests and still be a shoulder for Deb as she figures out her new world.  Everyone needs a levelheaded pal in their life, along with a crazy BFF like Stacy.

What I Hated:

• Jane (and Deb-as-Jane) eats to feel better.  Yes, I know, that's on both lists, but while I do like the acknowledgement of one way that people gain weight, I think it's dangerous for anyone without weight problems to see this an assume the only reason why heavy people are heavy is because they're pigs.
  
• Jane has low self-esteem. I know, another double-dipper.  I think it's important to know that not all overweight people have low self-esteem.  There are a lot of people who love themselves and don't hate their bodies just because they are overweight.
• Deb was a super healthy, body conscious person before she became Jane, but once seeing that the damage is already done, she gives in.  Deb-as-Jane is constantly eating and not once thinking about her former healthy lifestyle.  I also suspect that Deb-as-Jane, though she may become more fashionable, confident, and happy, will not lose any weight, and while I don't need to see Jane at Deb's weight, I do think it's important to encourage healthy lifestyles, not hopelessness.

On the Fence About:

• "You sent me to hell!?" Deb's first words on awakening as Jane.  While funny, and totally something Deb would think, living life in a body that's a little bigger is no where near hell, and doesn't have to be a permanent situation.
• Real Jane dying for good.  Jane was a good, if insecure person, and while she had to leave her body for Deb to inhabit it, I feel bad for her. RIP, Jane.
• Deb-as-Jane giving an insecure (and, I suspect, emotionally abused) woman a makeover to help her gain confidence and stand up to her cheating husband.  One makeover probably can't undo 13 years of marriage to a man like that, but it's nice to see Deb doing her best to inspire and empower other women, the only way she knows how (beauty).

Still, I can't help wanting to see what happens next.  Here's a trailer for the pilot; check out Lifetime if you want to see more!  

ps. Check out reviews from The New York Times and L A Times for more info, and look forward to guest appearances but Tim Gunn, Rosie O'Donnall and more!